Break the Silence Sunday, April 28

Special “Break The Silence” Worship Service To Focus On The Realities of Sexual Violence
McFarland United Church of Christ / 5710 Anthony St. / April 28, 2019 / 10 am

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McFarland UCC will host a very special worship service called “Break the Silence Sunday” during regular 10 a.m. morning worship on April 28, the Sunday following Easter. The purpose of this service is to sensitively name and address the painful issues connected to sexual violence and to “Break the Silence” of the Church when it comes to this difficult topic.

This service is part of a national initiative within the United Church of Christ to promote healing and to open up safe space for survivors to share their stories and to receive support, hope, and love. According to MUCC’s pastor, Bryan Sirchio,

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“the special focus of this time of worship will mark the official beginning of our congregation’s intention
to prayerfully consider ways in which our community can, in an ongoing way, advocate for healing and
change regarding the tragic realities connected to sexual abuse and violence.” 

The congregation realizes the potential for a service such as this, where the topic of sexual violence will be named quite directly, to be a trigger for victims and loved ones of victims. For that reason the service has been announced many times in advance, and the entire initiative is being approached with great respect and sensitivity. Says Rev. Sirchio,

“We respect and honor the fact that some people will prefer not to be present at a service such as this.
That’s one of the reasons why we are doing our best to let people know about this in advance and to
encourage them to opt out if that’s best for them. The last thing we want is for someone to feel
blindsided or triggered. On the other hand, we’ve already been contacted by a number of people who
plan on coming precisely because they want and need the Church to not only provide healing and hope
for victims, but because this issue has been a huge part of their own life’s journey. The Institutional
Church in general across all denominations has done a very poor job owning it’s own painful history
when it comes to issues of sexual violence and clergy sexual abuse in particular. Part of this service will
involve an official apology on behalf of the Church for it’s failures in this regard.”

The public is warmly invited to this very special time of worship, and anyone with questions or concerns
is welcome to contact Rev. Sirchio at the church to discuss the content of the service and the overall
reason why the congregation feels compelled to embrace this initiative.